RELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



65 



you taught me.^ If you will wear my night-dress, and sleep in 

 nay place to-night, my little sister will not miss me, while I go in 

 search of them." Nobody understood the importance of these 

 ceremonies better than ancient Susan, or had assisted oftener in 

 compounding the mysterious cake on St. Agnes's eve, though with 

 very little success for herself. Proud of any share in matters 

 which flatter the human heart's self-love so gracefully, by connect- 

 ing its wishes with the powers of unseen spirits, Susan obeyed her 

 foster-child's injunctions of secrecy, and crept unsuspected into the 

 chamber appropriated to Edith and Margaret Lambert. She lay 

 couched in some fear of detection, and without daring to speak to 

 the other occupant, whose sleep was profound. But in the most 

 dreaded and watching hour of night, the door opened gently, and 

 a female form approached the impostor's bed. The rustling of 

 long yellow silk garments, a pompoon of diamonds prodigiously 

 elevated on a battalion of white curls, and an apron of stiff point- 

 lace, announced Lady Ann Pembroke, whose spirit has never 

 ceased to molest her favourite castle since the days of Dr. Donne. 

 Even the apparition of a brocade negligee has the privilege of 

 rustling, and poor Susan, trembling under the massy velvet coun- 

 terpane, never doubted that Lady Ann came to rebuke her for 

 profaning a bed once consecrated to her family. But the spectre, 

 after waving her fan thrice, bent her head to the pillow — " It is 

 time ! — come instantly, and in silence !" Not even the courage 

 of an old practitioner in charms and mysteries could have resisted 

 this summons, if Susan had not remembered certain legends con- 

 cerning a coffer of gold supposed to have lain under these walls 

 since the death of Charles the Second ; and some hopes of being 

 an agent in revealing it, mingled with great fears of awaking the 

 innocent and unconscious sleeper in the adjoining bed, induced an 

 attempt to rise. Lady Ann's menacing gestures rebuked her de- 

 lay ; and covering herself in the velvet counterpane, she made 

 another effort, which the vigorous spirit aided by snatching her 

 up, muffling her head completely in the heavy velvet, and carry- 

 ing her out of the room. Probably two or three other goblins of 

 Lady Ann's acquaintance were in readiness, for the unfortunate 



* Ivy-leaf, ivy-leaf, I pluck thee ! 

 I love one, and one loves me ! 

 To-night may I seo, and to-morrow ken 

 Him from among all mortal men." 



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